Endemol appoints new DSP team following John Smithson’s departure

Endemol has installed a new management team at its factual producer Darlow Smithson after yesterday’s announcement that founder and chief executive John Smithson will leave the company next week.

DSP’s existing creative director, Tom Brisley, and managing director, Iain Pelling, are also leaving the company and will form a new indie alongside Smithson.

John Smithson said: “Tom, Iain and I have a burning desire to return to our indie roots after five years under super-indie ownership and we are excited by the creative challenges ahead. We are incredibly proud of DSP, its reputation and its large and talented team. “

Endemol bought DSP in late 2009. It said that DSP’s senior executive producer, Ben Bowie, and head of special projects, Julian Ware, are both stepping up to take the role of creative director under a new management structure.

Other changes include senior development producer Emily Roe becoming DSP’s head of development.Head of operations Ulla Streib and head of legal and business affairs Julia Pearce are being promoted to director of operations and director of legal and business affairs respectively.